Harry Earnshaw
Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Harold Earnshaw |
Nickname | Shake |
Born |
Newmillerdam, Wakefield | 24 September 1915
Died | 16 May 1985 69) | (aged
Team information | |
Current team | Retired |
Discipline | Road - Endurance rider |
Role | Rider |
Amateur team(s) | |
1935 |
Monckton CC |
Major wins | |
1936 – British Best All-Rounder Team Prize – Monckton C.C. 1937 – British Best All-Rounder Team Prize - Monckton C.C. 1938 – British Best All-Rounder 1938 – Westerley 100-mile 1938 – 50-miles in 2 hours 4 minutes 21 seconds 1938 – 249 miles in 12 hours. 1939 – 276.5 miles in 12 hours. | |
Infobox last updated on Dec 2012 |
Harold Earnshaw, Harry Shake Earnshaw, (September 24, 1915 – May 16, 1985) was an English racing cyclist from Yorkshire. In 1938 he was acclaimed as the British Best All-Rounder when his three best event performances were aggregated into 399 miles at 22.627 mph.[1]
His achievements were celebrated in 1939 when Cycling Weekly awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling, which is now held in 'The Pedal Club' archive.[1]
Personal life
Harry Earnshaw lived in Royston, South Yorkshire and was a natural athlete and cyclist. He worked as a coal-miner from school-leaving age (c. 1930) until 1938.[1][2]
Harry was given the nickname "Shake" by a visiting uncle. Who after reading a popular magazine called "Fragments", within its pages were a series of cartoons featuring a sergent-major glaring at a new recruit shouting "Before you come on parade tomorrow, Shakespeare get your hair cut."
Turning to the young Harry, who had a good thick crop of dark hair, he said "Shakespeare, get your hair cut". This was adopted as his nickname and over the years, Shakespeare was shorten to "Shake" a name that stayed with him all his life.[3]
Career
Earnshaw started road racing in 1935 when he was 18 years old, winning his first event, 25-miles in 1 hour 18 minutes despite several delays, a fall and mechanical damage. He was renowned as a tough, resilient, uncomplaining rider, coping with mechanical and physical set-backs.[1]
In 1936 the 'Monckton Cycling Club', sponsored by Carlton Cycles of Worksop,[4] won the team section of the British Best All-Rounder and Earnshaw was fifth in the individual listing.[1]
In the 1937 British Best All-Rounder, Earnshaw improved to third overall whilst Monckton C.C. again won the team prize.[1] He also won the 'Sheffield Phoenix 25 mile Time Trial in 1 hour, 1 minute 46 seconds.[5]
In 1938 Earnshaw won the British Best All-Rounder with the record average speed of 22.627 mph. This was reward for his victory in the Westerley 100-mile competition in a record time of 4 hours 20 minutes 48 seconds, plus two seasons best performances of 50-miles in 2 hours 4 minutes 21 seconds and 249 miles in 12 hours.[1]
The Golden Book
Harry Earnshaw's achievements were celebrated in 1938 when Cycling Weekly awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling.[1]
Later Years
In his senior years he became an accomplished after dinner speaker, but later came the sad news of his multiple amputations, a decision which was made due to the clotting of the arteries in his legs, the result of which confined him to a wheelchair.
Harry died on Thursday, May 16, 1985 aged 69.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 The Golden Book of Cycling - Harry Earnshaw, 1939. Archive maintained by 'The Pedal Club'.
- ↑ Curious Fox - Harry Shake Earnshaw
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Shake", the Monckton Boys and the Hercules Professionals by Eric Auty
- ↑ ClassicLightweights, Carlton Cycles, Author: Hilary Stone
- ↑ Calder Clarion - History, Sheffield Phoenix